Overcheck-bit for bridles



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

mvendo'z $152 h @Hovmug -%m( @Xlii'mcoaca n4: nonms Finns co., wow-urns, WASNINGYON, c. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDSAY T. CRABB, OF EMINENCE, KENTUCKY.

OVERCHECK-BIT FOR BRIDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,703, dated August 19, 1890.

Application filed March 25, 1890. Serial No- 345,265. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDSAY T. CRABB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eminence, in the county of Henry and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overcheck-Bits for Bridles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to over-check bits for the management of hard-pulling or unruly horses. It is a well known fact that many valuable horses are in the habit of resting their chins back against their necks, whereby they can resist any amount of pulling on the lines by the driver, and have their own way in spite of his efforts. This is not necessarily owing to a vicious nature, but to that very principle of go-ahead which makes the horse valuable. It is, therefore, not desirable to punish such a horse, but to render his little trick of curbing in his chin impossible, and in so doing to accustom him to carry his head more gracefully.

To this end my invention consists in an overcheck-bit shaped as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I represents in perspective abit according to my invention; and Fig. II shows one method of connecting the same with the harness.

A represents the two side bars of the bit, each provided at its rear or upper end with a loop B and at its forward or lower end with another loop 0.

D and E represent parallel straight crossbars rigidly fixed at their ends to the side bars A or made integral therewith, thus forming the whole bit as one piece. A nose-band F is to be attached to the two loops B to hold the cross-bars up in the mouth, and an overcheck G, passing from the saddle or water hook H over the top of the head, is to be buckled into the loops 0. Now if the horse attempts to curb his chin or buck, the overcheck will pull upon the forward end of the check-bit, and, using the nose-strap as a fulcrum, will give a severe pinch on his upper jaw, rendering it impossible for him-to bring his chin back to his neck. The drivers lines J are attached to a common bit K, which rests in the horses month back of the check-bit. Now it will be seen that if the driver pulls the horses chin back the pinching above described is produced on the horses upper jaw, the same as if the horse himself drew his chin back. Therefore the horse must yield to the drivers slightest efiort. Both crossbars D and E being perfectly straight and smooth, can only exert pressure without digging, sawing, or pinching or in any way wounding the flesh. The two cross-bars; at some distance apart, frame the side bars together so strongly that the bit may be made very light and yet very strong. Two crossbars slightly curved, but not having any sudden curves, might serve nearly as well as straight bars and be equivalent thereto. If there were but one cross-bar joining the two side bars and that cross-bar were curved very much midway, so as to be as far out of line as my two bars are apart, its ends would serve as journals to revolve between the horses jaws, and its action would be to press up against the soft roof of the horses mouth and wound him and stop hisbreathingthrough the nose; and, furthermore, he could not press the bit back to place by means of his jaws, and it would constantly tend to shut off his breath. The two cross-bars coming across the horses jaws to the side bars are essential to my invention. The side bars and cross-bars may be all cast or forged as one piece,,or all the bars may be originally separate pieces and afterward be riveted or otherwise joined to form a bit as one piece.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

A check-bit having two side bars with their forward ends bent upward and provided with loops at both ends, and having two straight cross-bars rigidly joining the said side bars, one of the said cross bars being located near the loops of one end and the other cross-bar at a little distance therefrom, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix m y signature in presence of two witnesses.

LINDSAY T. CRABB. Witnesses:

G. M. J ESSEE, J. A. Scor'r. 

